Kozo Tashima to challenge Gianni Infantino for FIFA presidency

Kozo Tashima has announced his intention to run for the FIFA presidency and challenge the incumbent Gianni Infantino, after a meeting of Japan's football association that gave him formal backing. The move makes Tashima the first serious challenger to Infantino since a July proposal by the president to hand over part of future World Cup revenues to private investors sparked widespread discontent in the sport.

Tashima, 68, said he will stand at the election scheduled for 18 March and received unanimous support from the board of the Japan Football Association. Reports from Japan also noted coverage in national sports outlets that confirmed the association's endorsement.

Formerly Japan’s representative in world football and a past president of the national association, Tashima has been a member of FIFA’s governance structures since 2015, when Sepp Blatter was in charge. His long service inside football administration is widely recognised.

Election rules and timeline

To become an official candidate, any nominee must secure formal backing from at least five of FIFA’s 211 member associations. The full membership will vote on 18 March in Rabat, Morocco, and hopefuls must also pass a vetting process carried out by a three-person committee appointed by FIFA. The deadline to submit applications is 18 November.

Observers say the European football confederation, UEFA, has been active in seeking an alternative candidate to oppose Infantino. Tashima’s entrance into the race crystallises the debate over FIFA’s direction after the revenue proposal and places the organisation on a potentially competitive path ahead of the Rabat congress.

How many member associations will back Tashima remains to be seen; securing the minimum five endorsements is the first formal hurdle before any campaign can proceed to the vote next March.

Photo: press material from the event